Chapter 18


    The mingling smell of blood and alcohol was thick in


    the air inside VIP room number 888 at The Paradise.


    The unpleasant odor was stifling.


    “Hold it!”


    Just as Samuel’sckeys armed themselves with


    anything they could find in the room–wine bottles,


    stools, even a fruit knife–to fight Emmanuel, Samuel


    called out, halting his men.


    His subordinates turned to stare at him, confused by


    hismand.


    Samuel ignored them and instead stared intently at


    Emmanuel.


    He could tell from Emmanuel’s gaze that the young


    man was ready to fight anyone who was in his


    death.


    way to


    The head of the underground circles was not born in


    one day. Samuel had fought his way to the top and


    once possessed the same gaze as Emmanuel.


    He knew it signaled a man who would not even flinch


    at the prospect of death. Anyone foolish enough to


    confront such a man would suffer a painful end.


    Samuel could not help but ask, “Brat, who exactly sent


    you here?”


    He only upied the project grounds by force


    because he knew the extent of thepany’s power.


    In the past, Terence Group and Cloud Construction


    had sent men to oust them to no avail. Thepanies


    Chapter 18 A Worthy Opponent


    dared not turn the issue into a big deal for fear of


    Samuel’s retaliation.


    He never imagined someone from Terence Group


    would dare confront him today, and one who had


    actual fighting skills to boot.


    Instead of replying to Samuel’s question, Emmanuel


    said, “That’s none of your business. I’ve said my piece. If


    you refuse to call off your men from the project


    grounds, I will fight you to the bitter end!”


    He sounded so calm it was positively chilling.


    Everyone in the room stared at him, agape with shock.


    They had never known anyone to taunt Samuel sq


    brazenly without any backup.


    Elena gazed at Emmanuel with bright eyes.


    Chapter 18 A Worthy Opponent


    He’s the most gant man I’ve ever seen!


    Suddenly, Samuel burst into a guffaw.


    An


    Hisughtersted a good while before his gaze


    cooled. He replied sneeringly, “What a surprise! To think


    someone in Yeringham would dare to use such a tone


    against me! But young fe, you’re overestimating


    your skills. You should know that once I give the word,


    your corpse will be floating along Yeringham River


    tomorrow.”


    The threat struck fear within Sheldon, whose legs


    almost crumpled from fear. He sucked in several


    breaths to calm himself down.


    Samuel hardly joked around, and he would surely.


    make good on his promise.


    “I don’t know about that,” Emmanuel continued firmly, “but I do know I have a goal toplete today.


    Even if I


    end up dead, I’ll drag all of you down to h*ll with me!”


    He meant every word he had said. This was no empty


    boast on Emmanuel’s part.


    He was out of options, in any case. He needed to bring


    Mackenzie home to meet his mother.


    If he failed today, his proud wife would turn her nose


    up at him, and it would be near impossible to convince


    her to visit his family home in the future.


    Samuel and Emmanuel found themselves engaged in


    a tense staring contest. The older man had spent most


    of his life fighting and knew he could not afford to piss


    off Emmanuel.


    Were he any younger, he would have considered a


    duel with Emmanuel.


    Things were different now. Samuel was older and had


    too much to lose. Gone was the hot–blooded fervor


    and all–or–nothing attitude that so defined his past.


    To put it inly, if he ended up behind bars for


    breaking thew, his age and physicality no longer


    aided him in earning the reverence and admiration of


    his fellow inmates.


    Spying his hesitation, Emmanuel advised earnestly,


    “Mr. Webber, it’s time to stay on the right side of the


    It was at that point that Sheldon realized he was no


    longer quaking in fear.


    Emmanuel appeared to have intimidated Samuel into


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    submission, and it was not by any threats of legal


    action.


    Instead, he simply replied on his fearsome


    determination and indomitable aura. Sheldon was in


    awe.


    No wonder they say you can’t judge a book by its


    cover. Who knew someone who looks as genteel as


    Emmanuel would turn out to be such a fierce


    character?


    Samuel’s furious shout pierced the silence of the room.


    “You think you can just order me to ask my men to


    leave? What about my reputation? What will everyone


    think of me then?”